Recently, my grandmother Ata Kando, published her latest book. I know there's a bias here, but it really is an amazing piece of work. Together with her friends, colleagues and several members of our family, she has created a collection of photography that is hilarious, heartbreaking and very thought-provoking.
In 1961, Ata received a commission from the Dutch government to travel to South America and document the installation and development of major industry in several developing countries. With the nice chunk of change she made, Ata herself later returned with a group of explorers (you really could call them that back then) and lived in the rainforests of Brazil for a few months. But that's a whole 'nother story for another time.
What relates to her current endeavor from that chapter of her life is that during her travels in South America, she was able to finagle her way onto a whaling ship. On that ship she lost much of her hearing from the booming harpoon cannons, but she also gained an understanding and respect for animals that has grown through the years.
Today, she is an outspoken animal rights activist and critic of people and places that mistreat animals. Last spring, when we took my children to the Amsterdam zoo, she cried over the treatment of many of the animals. And you know what? She was right to cry. The zoo itself is gorgeous, but what passes for habitats are outdated and cruel places to make any creature live.
But back to the point: I wanted to share this book because it contains exactly the kind of message I needed to hear in a time of my life when I am often stressed out and looking for something simple and relaxing to do in my spare free moments. The message: that we need to be more thoughtful in our actions. Whether it's the way we treat animals, the way we treat each other, the programs we watch, the businesses we patronize or the activities we choose to engage in. This book reminded me that I CAN slow down and make a better and more interesting choice. Life is long, as my 95 year old granny has proven, and it's a lot more fun (and often even more stress-relieving) when you go against the status quo.
If you or anyone you know are looking for a good present or addition to your coffee table, think about ordering one of these books.
The Living Other
Here's a picture of Ata, circa early 1950s taken with her second husband the Dutch photographer Ed van der Elsken. They met while working at Magnum and Vogue magazine in Paris - jobs that were far more grunt work than glamour back then.
